Starter circuit stuck on

[archcycle]

1990 evinrude 140

I've thought my main battery was dead for a while now as it wasn't taking a charge from the trickle charger at 1.5 amps and I kept having to jump off my secondary battery each of the last 3 times I went out. Then I decided to try with the 6 amp charger and it worked great but then after lots of perfectly functional stops and starts (thought it was solved by a nice simple two bad trickle chargers verdict..) we drifted with no ignition for about 3 hours and I turned the key and it would barely turn over. Held the key on for a bit longer the second time and then released it and it wouldn't stop cranking (barely cranking that is). I removed the key and it kept going. It kept cranking for about 30 seconds that it took for me to get a pair of pliers to get the wing nut off the battery (VERY hot for apparently having voltage on it for some time) and it was so brittle from the heat it snapped half of the battery terminal right off. Someone's wake hit and I dropped the wing nut and it went through the top of the battery like a hot knife through butter (horrifying for so many reasons...) but nothing bad came of it.

So I hooked up the secondary battery and we started up and went home. It did not try to start the instant I hooked up the secondary battery as I had expected it would.

Now of course I'm suspecting the keyswitch and already ordered a new one and a replacement starting battery.

So far I tried to replicate the problem on the muffs and can't get the keyswitch to keep sending voltage after shutting it off. Tried a lot of times and banged on it a little etc. The starter solenoid and starter have power and lack thereof in all the right places at all the right times.

The hope now is that I have an intermittent problem with the starter switch but I have concern that it could also be caused by an intermittently malfunctioning relay.

I think I'm doing this all the right way so far but would appreciate some experienced advice before going back on the water. Definitely going to have that multimeter with me next time I go out..

 

[oldcatamount]

Re: Starter circuit stuck on

I would do exactly as you are doing, replace the switch first. That's the most logical place to start, and, they aren't to expensive. It's very time consuming to pinpoint an electrical problem, but, so is throwing parts at it.

 

[boobie]

Re: Starter circuit stuck on

Not saying yours is bad but I've seen starter solenoids cause the same problem you had.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Starter circuit stuck on

I had that exact problem on my 50, hit the key and ti woduln't start but the stater woudln't kick off, turned out to be a really low battery.

I have 2 batteries for the boat and a starter, I was able to switch the engine leads to the boat battery and it fired right up so Ihtink your new battery wil solve the problem.

 

[archcycle]

Re: Starter circuit stuck on

The problem really is a constantly engaged starter. As in the starter is engaged and drawing current to the point that the battery leads get so hot they snap off and then melt straight through the top of the battery. Maybe I wasn't clear. Pulled the key out and it kept trying to crank.

Got the new keyswitch in now and tested it ok, and the new battery is in, and installed a battery switch on the starter battery. It'll probably just have to be a matter of time before I can call it fixed since it's seemed to be a intermittent.

 

[archcycle]

Re: Starter circuit stuck on

I had that exact problem on my 50, hit the key and ti woduln't start but the stater woudln't kick off, turned out to be a really low battery.

I have 2 batteries for the boat and a starter, I was able to switch the engine leads to the boat battery and it fired right up so Ihtink your new battery wil solve the problem.

Your battery was so low that it wouldn't turn off? That doesn't make sense. When was the last time it was so out of gas that it wouldn't turn off? You wouldn't fill it with gas or replace the gas tank.. I think you have an intermittent defective part too.

 

[mt78robalotank]

Re: Starter circuit stuck on

I have a 1990 Evinrude 140 as well. I have had the same problem occur that you described. It turned out to be the soleniod. If for some reason it happens again tap on the soleniod and it should disengage the starter. However that is a good indicator that it is time for a new soleniod.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Starter circuit stuck on

Your problem is that the starter solenoid internal contacts were welded to the spring loaded plunger. This allowed battery voltage to flow thru it directly to the electric starter.

This problem is caused by boaters using faulty batterys which discharge easily. A sparking situation takes place within the starter solenoid such as what you might see on an arc welder when a low battery is in the circuit, eventually resulting in a shorted solenoid.

Install a new solenoid and a known good battery, otherwise be prepared to encounter the same situation at a later date.

 

[archcycle]

Re: Starter circuit stuck on

Your problem is that the starter solenoid internal contacts were welded to the spring loaded plunger. This allowed battery voltage to flow thru it directly to the electric starter.

This problem is caused by boaters using faulty batterys which discharge easily. A sparking situation takes place within the starter solenoid such as what you might see on an arc welder when a low battery is in the circuit, eventually resulting in a shorted solenoid.

Install a new solenoid and a known good battery, otherwise be prepared to encounter the same situation at a later date.

Yeah, I might as well replace the solenoid now. Small price to pay for avoiding future near or total strandings and repairs. It was running on about a 4 year old interstate marine deep cycle that was hardly used but properly maintained by my brother before he got rid of his boat. I've done some voltage testing since installing the new battery and the new ignition switch (and a battery cutoff switch...) with the motor running on muffs and haven't found voltage where it shouldn't be yet and would like to think of it as fixed but take no chances is really the only way to go here.

Going out tomorrow (banking holiday!) and I can pick up a solenoid on my way to the boat ramp and then it'll all be replaced except for the wiring from the switch to the motor.

Thanks for the advice all

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Starter circuit stuck on

I'm glad Joe clarified that for people,

The old wives tale is that the battery was so low that it wouldn't disengage, when in reality as explained earlier, the problem with a weak battery has caused another problem within the solenoid.

Many people just replace the battery and call it good, only to have the same problem again, or they have the solenoid just up and quit alltogether........this is why it is ALWAYS best to start from square one to avoid overlooking things.

You can do it right the first time, or you can play "row row row" your boat, all the while telling yourself "friggin shortcuts"